For years, putting Connor McDavid and Leon Draisaitl on the same line has felt like something the Oilers could only do when they really needed a goal.
This season, it might be something they can actually afford to do regularly.
Mike Babcock has opened camp with McDavid and Draisaitl together, with Vasily Podkolzin on the wing. And while seeing two of the best players in the world on the same line is nothing new for Oilers fans, the bigger story might be what Edmonton can put behind them.
The Oilers finally appear to have enough depth to make it work.
McDavid and Draisaitl together is obviously terrifying for opponents. When those two are on the ice at the same time, there isn’t much room for a mistake. One bad turnover can turn into a scoring chance almost immediately.
The problem in the past has been what happens when they’re separated.
Edmonton has spent plenty of time keeping the two superstars apart because it gives the team two dangerous lines instead of one. That makes it much harder for opponents to simply focus their best defensive players on McDavid’s line.
But if the rest of the lineup can consistently produce, there is a different argument to make.
Why not put McDavid and Draisaitl together?
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